Hall calls ‘Friends’ trio

Kudos for developing TV programming on DVD

The executive producers of NBC’s “Friends,” Kevin S. Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane, will be inducted into the Video Business Video Hall of Fame Dec. 8 in Beverly Hills.

The trio are being recognized for the instrumental role they’ve played in developing the fast-growing, almost $1 billion category of TV programming on DVD.

Bright, Kauffman and Crane join New Line Home Entertainment president and chief operating officer Stephen Einhorn; fitness expert Denise Austin; and retailer Robert J. Higgins, chairman and CEO of Trans World Entertainment, as this year’s Video Hall of Fame inductees.

Besides its hit status in firstrun and syndication, “Friends” has been a great success on VHS and DVD. Before the release of the fifth season last month, more than 4.6 million sets of titles in the “Friends” franchise had been sold, in “The Best of Friends” compilations and complete season sets, according to Warner Home Video.

The Video Hall of Fame, now in its 23rd year, benefits three charities: Variety — The Children’s Charity (not affiliated with Variety); Fast Forward to End Childhood Hunger; and the Samara Jan Turkel Foundation.